The relationship between Entrepreneurial Education and the Sustainable Development of SMEs in China: the mediating effect of Innovation Capability

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between entrepreneurship education, innovation capabilities and the sustainable development of small and medium-sized enterprises in China, especially the mediating effect of innovation capabilities. By analyzing questionnaire data from SMEs in different regions of China, this study uses SPSS 27 and Process Model 4 to verify the impact of entrepreneurship education on the sustainable development of SMEs and the mediating effect of innovation capabilities. The results show that entrepreneurship education significantly positively predicts innovation ability (β=0.691, p<0.001), and indirectly promotes the sustainable development of small and medium-sized enterprises through innovation ability. The indirect effect accounts for 78.6% of the total effect, confirming the partial mediation of innovation ability. effect. In addition, the direct effect (β=0.152, p<0.001) also shows that entrepreneurship education has a direct positive impact on SMEs. These findings highlight the importance of entrepreneurship education in promoting corporate innovation capabilities and sustainable growth and provide policy makers with policy recommendations to enhance the innovation capabilities and sustainable development of small and medium-sized enterprises.